Inflation and Deflation

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech and Polish manufacturing contracted for the 13th month running in April, putting more pressure on reluctant policymakers to spur their economies. Facing pressure abroad from the slump in their main export market, the euro zone,...

* Dollar index nurses losses, but off lows * Fed recommits to aggressive stimulus programme * ECB next in focus, then U.S. jobs on Friday By Ian Chua SYDNEY, May 2 (Reuters) - The dollar remained on the defensive in early Asian trade on Thursday but...

* ECB expected to cut rates by 25 bpt to 0.50 pct * ECB seen doing little about weak SME lending for now * Rate decision at 1145 GMT, news conference at 1230 GMT By Eva Kuehnen FRANKFURT, May 2 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is expected to...

EDMONTON, Alberta (Reuters) - There appears to be more momentum in the Canadian economy in the first quarter than the central bank had anticipated in its quarterly forecasts last month, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney said on Wednesday. "Very short-...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bill Gross, manager of the world's largest bond fund, on Wednesday likened central bankers to barbers giving "haircuts" to the value of investments through their easy money policies. Gross, a founder and co-chief investment officer...

* Fed's assessment of economy largely unchanged * Raises prospect of changes in pace of bond buys * Fiscal policy seen restraining economic growth By Pedro da Costa and Alister Bull WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve said on...

By John Balassi May 1 (IFR) - Tone is somewhat muted on Wednesday as the markets await the outcome of the Federal Reserve two-day meeting at 2:15pm. Investors are expecting the central bank policy statement to be more dovish given the loss of economic...

* Tiny country has history of big inflation swings * Rate now at highest since 2009 * Long time frame for infrastructure building may limit pressure * Authorities may use price regulation, monetary policy * But small size, dollar peg make Qatar...

* Biggest market rally since 2011 uprising * Turnover quadruples from last year * Leap of faith in post-conflict Syria * But many see stocks as cushion against inflation * Some companies riding out war surprisingly well By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN,...

* Fed expected to maintain $85 bln/month in bond buys * Central bank seen nodding to soft economic signs * Debate could turn toward doing more, not less By Pedro Nicolaci da Costa WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve's debate over U.S....

By Pedro da Costa and Alister Bull WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve stuck to its plan to buy $85 billion in bonds each month to push down borrowing costs and prop up the economy, citing risks to growth from recent budget...

By Pedro da Costa and Alister Bull WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it will keep buying $85 billion in bonds each month to keep interest rates low and spur growth, but added it could lift or taper this pace of...